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Disabled hunters get more options

By Tony Robinson | Sportsman

Published: August 7, 2008

For many years, the only benefit afforded disabled sportsman was that they might be eligible for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.
In 1992, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 went into effect. In 1993, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1222, which is known as The Disabled Sportsman Program.
The new program, which was to consist of special hunting and fishing activities adapted to the needs of persons with specific disabilities, was to be developed and administered by the N.C. Wild-life Resources Commission.
As might be expected, it took the commission a while to work the bugs out, but this year, the program's scope is wider than ever.
This year, the WRC unveiled a name change for the old Special Hunts program and a revamp of its disabled sportsmen categories. The special hunts are now called Permit Hunts.
For disabled sportsmen, the commission has developed a three-tier hunting system. The tier system is designed to offer a variety of hunting levels for disabled sportsmen.
Tier I hunts simply refer to the Disabled Access Permit program and locations. This type of hunt is not part of the Permit Hunting Program.
Tier II hunts are on specific Game Lands and refuges that are included in the Permit Hunting Opportuni-ties Program.
The new Tier III hunts are commission-facilitated and assisted hunts. These hunts offer managed participation for disabled sportsmen in areas where blinds are provided, and offer a unique hunting opportunity.